The Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht announced has announced 2 funding schemes for Protected Structures – the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) 2019 and the Historic Structures Fund (HSF) 2019. Funding for the Historic Structures Fund is being made available as part of Investing in our Culture, Language and Heritage 2018-2027.

Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) 2019
The BHIS scheme seeks to leverage private capital for investment in small-scale, labour-intensive projects and to support the employment of skilled and experienced conservation professionals, craftspeople and trades persons in the repair of Protected Structures and in certain cases, the conservation of structures within Architectural Conservation Areas (ACA). Waterford has been allocated €114,000. Funding awards made under the scheme will be between €2,500 and €15,000, with applicants matching the grants being awarded.

The Historic Structures Fund (HSF) 2019
The primary focus of the HSF will be on conservation and enhancement of historic structures and buildings for the benefit of communities and the public. The funding will

enable larger scale conservation works to be carried out on heritage structures which are deemed to be significant and in need of urgent support;

encourage the regeneration and reuse of heritage properties and to help to secure the preservation of protected structures and/or historic-culturally significant assets;

support the investment of private capital in labour-intensive projects to conserve historic structures in public and private ownership for community use

Stream 1 will offer grants from €15,000 up to €50,000 and is aimed at essential repairs and smaller capital works for the refurbishment and conservation of heritage structures. Stream 2 will offer a small number of grants from €50,000 up to €200,000 for larger enhancement, refurbishment or reuse projects involving heritage structures, where a clear community or public benefit has been demonstrated.

These schemes will be administered by Waterford City and County Council. The criteria, list of qualifying works and the application forms for the Built Heritage Investment Scheme 2019 and Historic Structures Fund 2019 are HERE.

Completed application forms and photos of the structures must be submitted by email only to rryall@waterfordcouncil.ie, by 5 pm on 28th of January 2019. The Department will formally approve projects for funding by 1st of March 2019. Successful applicants must have the works completed by 27th of September 2019.